As the world population continues to increase, there has been a great form of imbalance in the demand and supply of houses. Most developing nations of the earth today including Nigeria are exposed to the phenomenon of population growth and scarcity of houses [5] . As a result of this, the demand for affordable infrastructure, basic services and housing in growing urban setup keeps increasing [8] . Therefore, it is expedient to adopt an alternative material with improved quality over the conventional building materials whose use could annex this issue.

Expanded Polystyrene is a thermoplastic material manufactured from styrene monomer, using a polymerization process which produces translucent spherical beads of polystyrene [5] . According to [9] , It is derived from the distillation process of crude oil and is 100% recyclable which makes it an alternative construction material. The five manufacturing stages of expanded polystyrene involves pre-expansion, intermediate conditioning and stabilization, molding, shaping and post-production processes [10] , grouped into three phases as Pre-expansion, Intermediate maturing and Final Moulding phase [9] . Expanded Polystyrene is regarded for its Economy, Performance and Sustainability [11] , recognized among the most important plastic materials, with more than 30 years of application in various functions [12] . It is easy to handle, safe, non-hazardous and has proven constant mechanical and insulation properties for the life time of the building in which it is used [13] . The use of EPS material reduces the rate at which natural materials such as wood and stones are extracted from the environment, thereby promoting sustainable development [9] . It is a stable low-density foam of non-absorbent, hydrophobic, closed cell nature which can be used as ultra-lightweight aggregate suitable for developing concretes for both structural and non-structural applications [14] .

[15] observed the features of sustainable building materials. These features are energy efficiency, reduction in construction waste, embodied energy reduction, recycled content, water treatment and conservation, use of non-toxic or less-toxic materials, longer life, reusability and recyclability, renewable energy system, pollution prevention and biodegradability in the pre-building, building and post-building phases and these features are found in this material. Expanded polystyrene material has good strength potentials in building construction and it has performed well for both low and high-rise buildings of up to ten floors, meeting the basic requirements of a building material [6] [9] . The panels have been used in the construction industry to solve problems concerning thermal insulation with the use of additives to give it “self-extinguishing” characteristics and ability to withstand heat or fire for a long period before combustion [6] . Expanded polystyrene does not react with water neither is water absorbed along the walls of the closed cells in the polystyrene foam as compared to masonry stone which can absorb water and become bulky with time when exposed to water [11] . It is non-toxic, chemically inert, non-irritant and rot-proof. Fungi and bacteria cannot grow on EPS and it is insoluble and non-hygroscopic. Also, it is rodent-proof and offers no nutrient attraction to vermin and it is easily recycled [6] [11] [13] making it an alternative material for building construction.

Sustainability of buildings is an important issue for the construction industry and are characterized by the lower construction costs for energy consumption and operations, environmentally friendly, able to save natural resources, comfortable and healthy for their users [16] . Safe and affordable housing provides personal, social, and economic benefits, and contributes to the health and safety of individual inhabitants [17] . Energy is one of the most important factors in economic growth and social development in all countries [18] , and as urbanization is rapidly growing, the construction of residential area is perpetrating intensely and at the same time the world is also facing the energy resource shortage, hence the need to modify the housing design and construction technologies to reduce the cost, gas emission, and to provide more indoor comfort with least energy needs [19] and reduces the effect of diminishing energy resources which is a threat to the present and future of mankind [10] .

According to [18] and [20] , the building industry uses great quantities of raw materials which involve high energy consumption and that choosing materials with high content in embodied energy entails an initial high level of energy consumption in the building production stage but also determines future energy consumption in order to fulfill heating, ventilation and air conditioning demands. Furthermore, [21] also stated that in the energy efficient building design, the use of energy efficient building materials is very important since the construction materials can positively support the constructions in which they are used by reflecting their environmental features with their all other features into the construction. Based on this, it is important to consider alternative option such as expanded polystyrene or other types of combustible materials for insulation. This is confirmed by [10] , where he stated in his study that a great satisfaction was derived by both client and residents of EPS constructed building for its high-ranking performances for recyclability, reliability, versatility and moisture resistance. They also stated that there is a great future for the applications of EPS in the Nigerian building industry. Also [19] said that the use of pre-reinforced Expanded polystyrene sheets will reduce the overall construction cost as it reduces the duration of construction drastically hence the labor cost is reduced consequently which also can be assembled where the bearing capacity of soil is low as the dead weight of the superstructure is very less compared to that of conventional reinforced concrete structure.

Because the expanded polystyrene (EPS) light weight concrete has the characteristics of lightweight, energy absorption, and heat preservation, it is used in many specific construction industries like high rise buildings, floating marine platforms, and large-sized and long-span concrete [17] [21] , which is why it should be considered for use in Akure as an alternative building materials to the available alternatives which has demonstrated threat to the sustainability of the immediate surrounding.

The respondents in this regard include both Architects in Akure, either in academia or practical field. These respondents are found in the department of Architecture in the higher institutions and in the registered Architectural firms in Akure. From Table 1 below, 73.3% of the respondents were male architects while 26.7% were female architects. This is as a result of the low numbers of the female gender in the profession. Data were collected from these respective individuals and were analyzed during the course of the study.

The work experience of the respondents indicates how long the respondents have been in practice. It was observed from Table 2 that a higher percentage of the respondents (53.3%) have working experience of between 11 - 15 years, 40.1% had experience of 10 years and below, and 6.6% of the respondents had experience of 16 years and above. This has significantly influenced the level of exposure of the respondents and diverse options they have had as regards their choice of materials for building construction. This experience will help them to properly evaluate the different building materials and their advantages over one another.

All the respondents have at a time engaged in a sort of building constructions

and the number of buildings constructed by the respondents were noted. As observed from Table 3, quite a higher percentage for respondents (72.3%) had executed housing project within the range of 11 and above either as a designer, contractor, or consultant. This means that majority of the respondents must have recommended or adopted a material for building construction which may either be expanded polystyrene or other alternatives. The reason for their preferences will be noted.

The level of knowledge of EPS in this regard means those who knows about its use as a building material, its properties, technical application in construction and its advantage over other materials. These could be acquired either through professional program, thought in higher institutions attended by the respective respondents or through personal studies or informal conversation. Among the respondents, some knew a lot about EPS and could say if it was a better alternative to the conventional materials and the factors that hinders its adoption in Akure.

From Table 4 below, 56.8% of the respondents do not have the technical knowledge of EPS building construction method. Just a few (21%) admitted that they have the knowledge of how EPS panels are used for building construction and noted that it is quicker to construct with when compared to sandcrete block or laterite brick especially during the wall erection stage. They noted that they were made aware of this material either in their academic curriculum or in seminars organized by their professional bodies.

The rate at which the architects specifies this material for building construction is low. In Table 5 below, only 2.2% of the respondents frequently specifies EPS for building construction. 8.9% specifies it, 48.9% indicated that they may specify but 40% indicated not to have specified it before and are not willing to give a try to its use based on factors such as its cost of transport from station to site, its scarce nature in the city and for fear of the unknown in its technical use.

Table 6 assessed the availability of EPS panels in Akure and from the data collected, it was obvious that EPS panels are not readily available in Akure when compared to other conventional building materials. 55.6% of the respondents noted that EPS cannot be easily reached when needed unlike the sandcrete blocks, laterite bricks and bamboo which are readily available in the study area. However, it can be ordered for and supplied to respective site but it will take more time to get them delivered to stations especially in the case of prompt need thereby making the adoption of the available materials prominent.

A comparative cost comparison between a set of repeated building construction with the use of EPS panel and sandcrete block at Irese, Akure was the base of the decision made as regards the cost implication of EPS for building construction and the closest to the respondents who knew about its application. These

buildings were of the same design and in the same location. As such could easily be compared. As a result, some respondents were able to say their opinion about the cost implication in relation to other materials. Analysis from data collected in Table 7 implied that majority of the respondents (64.4%) could not give a specific answer to the comparative cost of EPS panel in relation to other materials since it is not a readily available material in the study area. However, some respondents (22.2%) noted that EPS construction is relatively cheap in terms of overall cost of erection when compared to sandcrete block.

From Table 8 below, 42.2% of the respondents agreed that the construction time when using EPS panel is comparatively faster than when sandcrete block or laterite bricks are used since EPS panel building system has to do with assemblage of panel, installation of services and shotcrete/plastering. Only 17.8% disagreed to that assertion, that for instant, if the amount of labor is increased or the use of admixtures, the use of other alternative building material could also be fast on the construction site but might as well lead to an increased cost of construction.

From Table 9, 53.3% of the respondents could not give an answer to the above question due to low level of knowledge and its usage. However, 42.2% agreed that EPS panel has a good property of adaptivity with the environment. It provides a cool interior space that complements the harsh weather in Akure,

poisonous to rodents, light weight and easy to build with and not harmful to human health.

After relating opinions from concerned literature on the stated issue with the survey carried out in this research, this paper therefore concludes that awareness and availability are the key hindrances to the adoption of EPS for building construction in Akure. Unlike sandcrete block whose production industry could be found in several places in the city, or laterite which is abundant within and around this region, ESP panel production factory or distribution channels are not readily available in Akure, thereby leaving architects and clients to sticking with the available options, which goes with the assertion made by [10] that, despite the eco-friendliness and other advantages of the EPS insulating material, it has been discovered that there is low level of awareness on the part of the building professionals in Nigeria and that the material is not readily available in the market in all the six geo-political zones of the country. If they had it more in abundant, maybe developers would have adopted it more for construction. Also, Architects do not know much about it, as such cannot fully decipher its qualities and/or suitability for building construction. Though some Architects prefer to recommend to use what they are used to and are aware of its shortcomings and how to prevent them rather than subscribing to a new material whose shortcomings are unknown to them.

However, Architects who know about EPS confirms its low construction cost over other conventional building materials, quick construction time and its environmental friendliness but said in an environment where this material is not readily available and less of its awareness is made known to the clients, Architects and other professionals in the construction company, attention will still keep drifting towards the usual and available alternatives except if these deficiencies are bridged.

This study has shown the tremendous advantages of EPS as a building material. This material, however is still unknown to many, making its adoption low in Akure. As a result of this, the following recommendations are made:

・ Introduction of the expanded polystyrene to the academic scheme to expose undergraduates to the knowledge of EPS and its properties.

・ Introduction of EPS to professional courses to enlighten the architects and other professionals on the use of EPS for building construction.

・ Provision of local factories that can make EPS readily available for construction in more locations aside the major cities.

・ The architects should enlighten their clients about EPS and probably encourage them to adopt it for their building construction.

Government should make new housing policies that will encourage the use of EPS for construction and should lay an example by carrying out massive construction (estate construction other building for other facilities) using EPS as the building material.